Adding Age

Adding Age

Seven years ago, Heather and Juan Salazar found themselves at a crossroads. Already parents to two children under the age of 12, with plans for a third in the near future, the couple realized they needed more room than their 1,600-square-foot home in Snohomish, Washington, provided. They could either upgrade to a recently built house in the same affordable subdivision, or splurge on a fixer-upper elsewhere. Ultimately, she and Juan, who works as a UPS driver, decided to move two blocks away—to a Craftsman knockoff completed in 1999.

Wallpaper, $5: Heather covered the wall in book pages adhered with diluted craft glue she had on hand.

Light, $49: Fashioned from a watering can, this pendant light was an Etsy find.

Hutch, $500: The Salazars spotted this hutch at Costco Home before the outlet chain went out of business.

Table and chairs, $125: The antique bistro chairs and walnut table were all nabbed for this low price.

Living Room

Living Room

"When we first walked in, my eyes went to the living room's vaulted ceiling, and I thought it was such a waste of space!" Heather, a bank-loan officer, recalls. So she and Juan decided to expand a small existing loft over the common area, creating an upstairs den in the process.

The Salazars "aged" the new place by adding wainscoting and molding, as well as by replacing the hollow-core doors with solid reclaimed ones. "We installed a barn-style sliding track between the living area and the workroom, and I loved it so much that I put in two more," says Heather.

Doors, $300: Crafted for $200 using salvaged materials, the family-room door slides on a $100 track from a local feed store.